Bluffing in Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha hi-lo is a very complex game with a lot of draws. Knowing when to bluff and when not to bluff can win/save you a lot of money. The average flop percentage is quite high in this game so you will usually be facing quite a few other players. Some may be going for the low pot and other the high pot so it is pretty hard to bluff everyone out with one bet.

River Bluffing

The best opportunity to bluff comes at the river when there are only a couple other players. The most common scenario for bluffing occurs when a third low card on the river does not come. In this circumstance the players that were playing for the low hand are pretty much out of the game but if they have even a middle strength high hand such as two pair they will call because of pot odds.

More players tend to be more focused on the low hand than the high hand. You can use this to your advantage if you play your cards right. Below is the type of hand that happens all too often.

Hole Cards

Player 1 -????
Player 2 -????
Player 3 -????
Your cards – Qh - 2h - Qs – 4d

Flop - 3d – 5c – 9h

Player 1 bets
Player 2 raises
Player 3 folds You call with an open ended straight draw
Player 1 calls

Turn - 10s

Player 1 bets
Player 2 calls
You call hoping for an ace or six.

River - Kh

Player 1 checks
Player 2 checks
You bet

If this is at a pot limit table than a large bet on the river should get the other two players to fold. They most likely have the infamous ace-two, which is usually overplayed and over valued by many players.

Observing Opponents' Play

When you are at the tables you can usually figure out who is going after the low hand by what the players do pre-flop. If a player raises and then gets re-raised pre-flop, you can safely assume that at least one of those players has a strong low hand such as A-2-X-X.

In fixed limit it is more difficult to steal a pot in the above situation. Even if the player only has a pair he may call just because he assumes you were going for the low hand also and that you’re just trying to steal the pot.

If you are playing with one or two other players than your odds of stealing a pot in FL Omaha hi-lo improve greatly but in the end players do not easily fold when faced with a bet if the pot is large and they have a pair or a weak two pair.

Pot limit Omaha hi-lo is much easier to take down pots through bluffing. There are three factors you must consider when deciding to bluff.

· The cards
· Your opponents betting
· Your opponents playing style

If you’re in the big blind and the flop comes A-2-3 and both players ahead of you check, a small bet may scare them away especially if the other two players have been playing aggressive. In the end you will have to rely on your gut instinct but a strategic bluff here and there can drastically increase your profits.

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